Philly mayor calls for team to probe election problems

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says a six-member “fact-finding” team will look into reports of voting problems in the city during last month’s presidential election.

There was an increase in the number of people who were forced to cast provisional ballots. Nutter, a Democrat, says the confusion created “a dark cloud” over the election.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Nutter says the probe will look into the “accuracy and integrity of our voter-roll system,” as well as training standards for poll workers and other issues.

The team will be led by city Managing Director Rich Negrin.

The Committee of Seventy, a Philadelphia-based group that monitors elections, said it fielded calls from many voters who believed they were registered but were told they were not, and therefore had to cast provisional ballots.